Logan Cup 'B' Division kicks off on Wednesday, with a new format for this year. The sides are drawn from the existing 10 provinces as follows:
Red: Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Harare Metropolitan
Green: Midlands, Mashonaland West and Masvingo
Gold: Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo Metropolitan

It's great news that 3 teams are fielded, I think I made a post a few weeks ago suggesting such a structure. However, I think this should be done in the Logan Cup too (say, Westerns, Centrals and Easterns) to increase standards. There are not enough good players for 5 teams, let alone 5 equal teams... but 3 could work. Each team would have about 5 national team players, a couple of A team players, and the rest of the squad would be the top provincial players.

It would make those top domestic players better overall, and perhaps good enough to allow a 4th team to be added in the coming years, and then a 5th. At the moment, there are some players making up the numbers for the lower ranked provinces who would seriously struggle to get a club game in any other country.

Players to watch in this tournament: Adam Tom, the former Zimbabwe A batsman (this was at a time when stocks were at rock bottom, but nonetheless he made the squad), Khawulani Ntuli, the Westerns fast bowler (all eyes have been on him for a few months as he is supposedly one of the country's fastest bowlers), Tafadzwa Ngulube, apparently a freakishly talented wicket keeper, and Kendrick Moyo, a BAC offspinner if I recall correctly.

I can't say that I've ever really heard of any of the players doing well in this game. I can't imagine that the standard is all that high, but at least the matches are happening, and more players are getting valuable experience of the longer format of the game.

Golds go on to meet Reds in the final match starting Thursday (17th), but with Reds having hammered Greens in the first match they're pretty much certain to pick up the title regardless of the result. Good bowling figures here by Freedom Takurasenga, he may become one to watch...